Name Game #1

Who is this young man?

11th Annual Missouri Department Encampment

The 11th annual Department Encampment for Missouri closed out the 2005-06 year on Saturday, 10 Jun 06 with an optional social on Friday, 9 Jun and banquet on the evening of 10 Jun. Commander-in-Chief Donald E. Darby was among the guests as were Ruth Funck, Past National President of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War (DUVCW).

The message brought to the Encampment by Commander-in-Chief Darby was one of preservation. We have been so focused on Union veterans and the G.A.R. that their heirs have been overlooked. It is time to begin preserving the history of earlier and present generations of SUVCW members and their works. For more information, refer to General Order No. 4 at http://suvcw.org/go/go04-05.htm.

Near the close of the meeting, officers of the 2005-06 year handed the torch to their successors. For 2006-07 the officers for the Department of Missouri are:

John Avery, Commander
Walter Busch, Sr. Vice Commander
Emmett Taylor, Jr. Vice Commander
Robert Petrovic, Secretary/Treasurer
Vern Stottlemyer, Council
John Boucher, Council
Brian Smarker, Council

Non-elected officers will be in place as soon as Commander Avery appoints them to their stations. Congratulations to all and may 2006-07 be a successful year for them.

Walter Busch (right), Commander of Grant Camp #68, accepts the James B. Eads Award on behalf of his camp. The award was presented by Commander John Martin (left) and Commander-in-Chief Donald Darby (center).

The annual awards were presented near the end of the banquet. Receiving the Show-Me Spirit award were two recipients (neither were present), Lindsay Misegades and Scott House. The recipient of the Francis P. Blair award was Walter Busch for his many contributions to preserving and perpetuating the history of Union soldiers, the G.A.R., and the SUVCW. Brother Busch is also Camp Commander of Ulysses S. Grant Camp #68 who were the recipients of the James B. Eads award.